11.05.2008

Real Life

No clever projects or fun rooms to share today. Just real life as a frazzled mommy with four kiddos.

My youngest two are boys, Two and Three, and they are 18 months apart. Two just turned three-years-old in September, and Three is 19-months. (and if you followed all those numbers you ought to be a mathematician.) The combination of their ages, and their age difference creates pure bedlam. If I turn my back even for a second they're up to something. The other morning I was treated to this...

Every fork they could fit into the honey jar was jammed into a sticky mess. How they got the lid off I'll never know...and how they fit those darned forks in there is beyond me as well, because I could barely get them out!

And this picture, well it speaks for itself. A shattered bowl of cereal and milk all over the floor. I don't give the little boys glass bowls...I'm not that crazy. They just managed to find one left over from the Princess' breakfast, and hurled it off the table. They say you shouldn't cry over spilled milk. Well, I'll be honest. I wanted to cry, but instead, I calmed myself down and reminded myself that they will be grown and out of the house before I know it, and I might even miss these times. So I grabbed the camera and captured the moment for posterity instead. It was one of my finer parenting moments.

Being a mommy to four is always an adventure. It's never boring. And although it's challenging, one thing is for sure. My kiddos are my greatest treasures!

And on a design note, yesterday I posted our half bath/laundry room over at HGTV's Rate My Space. It's rated pretty well so far, but if you liked it, please pop over and rate ithere. THANKS!

31
comments:

My two little boys are 16 months apart. I can relate. Taking a moment and realizing that they are only kiddos is so important to keeping your sanity (especially with boys). Sounds like you are a great mother.

Oh Wend- I can so commiserate. I keep telling myself that someday I will miss all of this. I am sorry for your broken bowl,...but that honey,...that is hilarious and priceless. I am glad that you got that on film.

I can so understand what your going through... Being the mom of 5 kids myself and my closest being 20 months apart, we have witnessed some pretty interesting things around here. All thanks to the kiddos of course. I should take pictures to remember these things. I always tend to freak out over the spilling of milk. I know I shouldn't, thanks for the reminder that they do grow up WAY to fast and there will come a time when I will want this back. Man I sound like a Trace Adkins song!

I feel for you! I have three boys and it can get crazy. I wish I had a picture of the time my 2yr old put all of the knives from the knife block into the toaster - while it was plugged in. I am so thankful for God's protection over my children!!!

Oh my! I love your "real life" photos. Someday those will be cherished memories. Maybe I should have taken a photo last night - hubby out of town, 1 sick girl, 1 trip to the ER in the middle of the night (with all 3 kids in tow)... Real life!

I always told myself when my kiddos were small and into everything that ONE DAY they would channel all that energy and creativity into something GREAT! And yours will, too. You have a great outlook, and you are right. These days will be gone so quickly. Enjoy them as often as you can. And pray a lot! ;)Suzanne

My boys are 16 months apart so I can totally relate. Now they are the ages of 12 and almost 11. There are so many days that I look back on that I wish I could have enjoyed more. At the time, I was just doing everything I possibly could to survive! I think it's wonderful that you captured these moments, they only last for such a short time.

Kelly...I have a big secret on how to keep my house looking so nice...it's called photo staging! LOL! Truthfully, it looks really great for about an hour week right after I finish cleaning. The rest of the time I just try my best!

I don't even see how you have any time to blog at all with four children and two of them being so young. It sounds like you are a FABULOUS mom to not freak out over episodes like this. Love the real life pictures you captured!

I couldn't help but be impressed with your boys feat of getting those forks into the honey jar! But you can be sure I won't be showing that pic to MY three year old! :) Blessings on you as you love your sweet family!

Oh my! I can relate...my boys are 16 months apart and my girls are 23months apart. There is never a dull moment around here. I loved your gentle reminder that this time with them is so fleeting...I need to hear that from time to time.

Great attitude you have!! And you are correct, they grow up before you know it. . . and when they hit those wonderful teen years, you'll wish that they were spilling milk/cereal on the floor instead of spilling stuff out of their mouths LOL.

My boys are 22 mos apart. There was the chocolate syrup all over the floor, my 7YO avocado tree that I had managed to move from CO to Texas in AUGUST, the butter on the floor debacle...new bottle of water on the machine and pouring it over little brother's head a 1/2c at a time...soaking wet mickey mouse house shoes and giggles from both of them...1/2 inch of water on the floor...

Hi Wendy :) Bless your heart! I didn't realize your kids were so little and so close in age. You do a great job balancing everything - what a great mom. :) Oh, and I love the pottery barn photos in the jar in yesterday's post!

Oh my gosh, I am so glad you have this post today. My days feel a lot more like this one than the ones when I post pretty pictures of rooms with no mess. We all have them! It is a relief to see other people's chaos...makes me feel better about my own! :)Carrie

You hit the nail on the head - one day our little ones will be grown up & we'll miss these days! A few of the moms at preschool were talking about this type of stuff the other day - too many toys around the house, but one day there won't be any toys around & we'll miss it! Too true! The time is now to cherish & love our children - and I guess there messes too! Great photo!!!

That floor picture is great. The other morning, my 2.5 year old son was trying to clear his spot at the breakfast table--bless his little heart--and dropped his glass bowl. It shattered. Just then, one of our 16 month old twin girls walked by and slipped in the milk ending up with a fat lip. (Grr.)

Our 1st born is 16 months older then her little brother. And he's 15 months older then his twin sisters. Life comes at us mama's of lots of little ones fast, doesn't it!

That floor picture is great. The other morning, my 2.5 year old son was trying to clear his spot at the breakfast table--bless his little heart--and dropped his glass bowl. It shattered. Just then, one of our 16 month old twin girls walked by and slipped in the milk ending up with a fat lip. (Grr.)

Our 1st born is 16 months older then her little brother. And he's 15 months older then his twin sisters. Life comes at us mama's of lots of little ones fast, doesn't it!

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